Soda After Wine - Beracha Achrona

Q. I recited a beracha on wine and then had a drink of soda. I was not required to recite a beracha rishona on the soda because it was covered by the wine, but do I need to recite a Borei Nefashos on the soda?

A. If one drank less than a revi’is (3.3 oz) of wine, one cannot recite the beracha of Al Hagefen afterwards. Therefore, if one drank a revi’is of soda, one must certainly recite Borei Nefashos on the soda. However, if one drank a revi’is of wine, and will recite Al Hagefen, Shulchan Aruch (OC 208:16) writes that this beracha acharona will cover the soda as well. Since the wine exempted the soda on the initial beracha, it will exempt the beracha acharona as well. The Mishnah Berurah (208:73) points out that if one was required to recite a beracha on the soda (e.g., he did not have it in mind when he recited the beracha on the wine), then the beracha acharona of Al Hagefen will not cover the drink unless he drank a few cups of wine. However, it appears that the Shulchan Aruch Harav (272:13) is of the opinion that in all cases, the beracha of Al Hagefen will cover drinks.

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